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COPA People's Academy aims to bridge gap between locals, Chicago police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

CHICAGO — The first class of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability's People's Academy, a free-to-the-public training that offers civilians insight into the organization, kicked off on Tuesday.Set to be held over six weeks, the inaugural class commenced at the new Police and Fire Training Academy in West Garfield Park. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Free-to-public training academy offers Chicagoans insight into COPAThe main goal of the class is to improve transparency.The multiweek program will be taught by experts in the field and includes topics such as:History of Civilian Oversight of PolicingIntroduction to Officer-Involved Shooting/Death InvestigationsWitness Reliability-Legal Concepts Overview-Standards of ProofAnalyzing Video–Use of Force Investigative ToolsPolicy Research & Analyses Division (PRAD)"This opportunity, we hope, will build trust between law enforcement and civilians so that there is a clear understanding, not only in our roles but also in how we reach those conclu...

Community supports garbage truck driver following the murder of his daughter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Residents in the St. Louis County town of Glendale are rallying in the wake of tragedy. They're doing it for beloved garbage truck driver Patrick Mack after his daughter, 28, was murdered over the weekend.There’s a new donation jar on the counter of Vitale’s Deli for Mack’s family, a family bigger than perhaps he ever knew.“We were all crushed,” said Mike Vitale, the deli owner. “It hits home because he’s us. He’s our family.” Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody “He hangs out the window and says, ‘Hey Ginger, what’s going on?’” said Ginger Fawcett, a Glendale resident.Residents would wait with their garbage at the curb on trash pickup day for a dose of Mack kindness: that big smile, that infectious laugh, maybe even a hug. That goes for kids, too.“Hi, Patrick. We miss you,” said Morgan Coulson in a video message recorded by her parents.Morgan was playing with her toy garbage truck.“The children in this neighborhood, they all kn...

Local parents of transgender children speak out on 2 bills threatening their community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A group of St. Louis area parents says the rights of transgender children are under attack, but they're fighting back."He loves playing games on his computer with his friends, he's a great artist," said Becky Hormuth, a parent of a transgender child."He loves geography, he is super funny, he loves his cats, he's just a regular kid,” said Danielle Meert, another parent of a transgender child. Trending: After two escapes, bear from Saint Louis Zoo moving to Texas "He's a senior in college in Philadelphia, never to return to Missouri,” said Susan Halla, founder of TransParent and parent of a transgender child.For these parents fighting the legislation, it's personal. Each parent has a transgender son who has gone through medical treatments at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital that have helped them transition."His grades have gone up, his depression has alleviated, his anxieties have gone down, so it's just been an overwhelmingly...

St. Louis Fire Chief asks trains for list of chemicals they’re carrying

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Recent train derailments involving hazardous materials are raising concerns about what we know is coming through our towns. St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson says we need more answers.“You never know what’s coming through these towns, these cities. You just don’t know. The railroad doesn’t share the information with us about what they’re transporting,” he said. “We should have a schedule of what’s coming through a densely populated area and where it’s being parked; what we have over there.”Jenkerson’s concerns come in the wake of the Feb. 3 train derailment in eastern Ohio. It involved toxic chemicals contained in train cars that reportedly came from Madison, Illinois. One of the chemicals was identified as vinyl chloride. Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody Jenkerson described it as being, “…everywhere. And it’s a used in a lot of different production processes, so it’s highly flammable, caustic, cancerous when it burns. It’s a nasty,...

New Haven community rallies behind families of fallen and wounded officers 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

NEW HAVEN, Mo. - The community of New Haven continues to show support for the families of fallen police Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith and critically wounded officer Adam Sullentrup. New Haven is where Sullentrup served as an officer before recently joining Griffith at the Hermann Police Department.The city of Hermann established a fund to help the families of both officers. Donations can also be made at any Peoples Savings Bank in the St. Louis area.“We have just been very overwhelmed by the support, not only at this location but all of our locations,” said Tyler Anderson, a loan officer with the Peoples Savings Bank in New Haven.The bank is sponsoring a movie night that will benefit the officers’ families. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. showing of Top Gun: Maverick at the Showboat Theater at 112 E 4th Street in Hermann on March 31. The cost of admission is a goodwill donation. Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody Bee Creative Embroidery in New H...

Marine veteran says sinkholes in his yard getting worse, blames the City of Bethalto

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

BETHALTO, Ill. - A Marine veteran in Bethalto, Illinois, says his lawn has been overrun with sinkholes that are getting worse.Nathaniel Rainey said that to make matters even worse, his lawn is sinking."My lawn used to be up with that driveway over there, above that driveway, like a muffin top," he said. "Now it’s more like a dish.”Rainey said he once had one of the nicest lawns in the neighborhood. The veteran proudly flies his Marine Corps flag, but he said he has been battling a sinkhole problem for years.He believed it was being caused by the City of Bethalto’s rusting sewers. Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody "The storm drain that runs around my property are broken, leaking, and rusted," Rainey said.He said he had contacted city officials with no luck in solving the issue."They been telling me it’s not their problem; it’s not their problem; they told me that the lines had been inspected," Rainey said. "When I ask for an inspection report, they s...

Powerful storm system continues to soak Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

Periods of heavy rains, thunderstorms, high winds and mountain snow continue to slam much of Southern California Tuesday evening, with the National Weather Service forecasting the strong storm system sticking around through Wednesday.  The weather service even issued a special weather statement for portions of San Bernardino, Riverside and central Orange counties through 9:15 p.m. after radar indicated wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour and pea-size hail.In Los Angeles County, a flood advisory is in effect for the coasts, valleys and lower mountains until 10:45 p.m. and beaches are closed due to heavy lightning. The NWS warns that heavy rainfall could trigger minor flooding in low-lying areas, pooling water in roadways and the risk of debris flows near wildfire burn scars. Downtown Los Angeles has received more than an inch of rain over the last 24 hours, according to an interactive map put out by the Ventura County Public Works Agency that shows season-to-date rainfall totals for d...

Detectives offering $20,000 reward for information leading to those responsible for murder of NBA champion's father in Compton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detectives held a press conference on Tuesday where they announced a $20,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of 65-year-old Richard Allen Jefferson Sr, the father of NBA champion Richard Jefferson and "beloved Compton resident." The murder of Jefferson Sr. happened on September 19, 2018, when a vehicle driving south in the 1400 block of Paulsen Avenue shot at him and a group of other men. Deputies responded to the scene and transported Jefferson Sr. to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. “He was killed for no reason other than being friendly and having a conversation with a few other males that lived in the neighborhood,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “Investigators believe the vehicle was occupied by gang members from another neighborhood who mistakenly thought Mr. Jefferson and the other males were gang member...

California bill would ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales & other food items

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

A bill being considered by the California State Assembly would ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales candy, Dubble Bubble Twist Gum, and other food items that the sponsor says contain small amounts of potentially dangerous and toxic chemicals.Introduced by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), AB 418 proposes that California stop allowing the manufacture, sale and distribution of foods that contain Red Dye No. 3, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, or Propyl Paraben.These chemicals have been linked to health problems including increased risk of cancer, damage to the immune system and behavioral issues in children, Gabriel's office said in a news release. California bill would require schools to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender While many Californians won’t recognize these chemicals by name, they can be found in popular food and drink items. According to experts, Titanium Dioxide can be found in cupcakes, trail mix and ice c...

CHP temporarily escorts traffic through I-5, Grapevine during brief snowfall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

California Highway Patrol officers escorted drivers along Interstate 5 through the Grapevine Tuesday evening after snow fell on the busy roadway, causing dangerous and slick conditions.CHP began escorting vehicles around 5:20 p.m., according to Caltrans. After about two hours, the escorts ended after snowfall turned into a light rain. California’s all-time snowpack record within reach Despite CHP allowing vehicles to go along the Grapevine corridor without supervision, officials continued to urge motorists to drive with caution through the area.Roads remained wet and slick Tuesday night, Caltrans said, and temperatures were expected to drop in the late hours, although not expected to reach freezing. Strong storm system continues to soak Southern California Rain continued to fall across much of California Tuesday evening as the region stared down it 12th atmospheric river of the wet season. The most powerful part of the storm was expected Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning w...